Winston-Salem, NC – The silver lining in North Carolina’s foreclosure crisis is that more homeowners are taking preventive measures and getting help to avoid losing their homes, according to Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Forsyth County (CCCS Forsyth).

Between 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 fiscal years, CCCS Forsyth has experienced a 220 percent increase in foreclosure intervention counseling, said Kathy Banks, Director of Counseling at CCCS Forsyth.

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“Borrowers in default are more aware today of help available through HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies,” Banks said. “And that’s important because foreclosure filings are projected to continue at record numbers for the next two to three years.”

One notable program is North Carolina’s Home Protection Program (NCHPP), in which CCCS Forsyth has been actively engaged since its creation in 2004. Established by the General Assembly through the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, the N.C. Justice Center, and the N.C. Housing Coalition, the NCHPP has helped more than 500 families pay their mortgages while seeking jobs or retraining for new ones.

The NCHPP provides zero-interest loans to qualifying homeowners who lost their jobs due to lay-off or economic downturn. In 2008-2009, CCCS Forsyth processed 58 loan approvals, totaling $701,477, to assist homeowners through this program. Eighty-seven percent of the loans approved were for Forsyth County homeowners. The other seven were in Davidson, Davie, Iredell, Rowan, Stokes and Surry counties.

“CCCS Forsyth had an NCHPP loan approval rate of 54.8 percent, which was the third highest rate among 25 agency partners for 2008-2009,” Banks said.

Even though the difficult economy has contributed to an increase in foreclosure rates, homeowners who are at risk have reason to hope, Banks said.

“People realize that they are not alone in dealing with foreclosure and help is available for free through a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency,” Banks said. “In most cases the circumstances that brought them to that point have not been of their own making. And by seeking help from a certified housing counselor, they do have a better chance of saving their home.”